School named after Charles Dickens accused of Oliver Twist style junk-food rules

DETERIORATION: The school believed that sweets were affecting student concentration

The secondary school launched a crackdown on sweets, fizzy drinks and multi-packs of junk grub after the Christmas holidays.

Snacks are confiscated in daily searches of pupils’ bags in scenes like those in which Fagin’s pickpockets go to work in Dickens’ book Oliver Twist.

Richard Morgan, head of Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs, Kent, said: “We noticed a deterioration in concentration, learning and behaviour, particularly from students bringing in large packs of unhealthy food and drinks.”

He said he had already seen improvements.

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IRONY: The school named after Dickens is accused of using tactics from famed villain Fagin

“We noticed a deterioration in concentration, learning and behaviour, particularly from students bringing in large packs of unhealthy food and drinks”

Richard Morgan, school head

But some parents and locals blasted the move on social media.

John Lovatt called it “bullying and theft”, adding: “Sorry headmaster, I think you’d better think it out again.”